Like Naughty Dog's latest IP, the next Intergalactic: The Heretical Prophet was revealed at The Game Awards 2024 with a bold trailer that features a dive into the science fiction genre. That announcement left details relatively vague around its actual gameplay, but still made clear the title's emphasis on paying homage to iconic sci-fi inspirations. There are several sources that Intergalactic: The Heretical Prophet probably from, but the spirit of the 1988 anime film Akira has been shown as a primary influence thus far.
Seeing a scene of a headstrong bounty hunter in a spaceship crowded with elements of cinematography can be an unmistakable reminder of the atmosphere Cowboy Bebopand that series may have played a role in inspiring Naughty Dog as well. Given the defining visual flair Intergalactic: The Heretical Prophethis trailer as a whole, however, it seems Akira it may even be more of a key reference point for the studio to look to. The game's spatial setting presents an immediate contrast to this inspiration, but the meaning behind these visual choices may shed some light on the direction of its story.
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Lot-pen-shot parallels to famous Akira footage form the basis for Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet Announcement Trailer
Jordan A. Mun's design seems inspired by Akira's Kaneda
As soon as his protagonist Intergalactic: The Heretical Prophet shown wearing a cropped red jacket with a standout collar, Jordan looks clearly meant to evoke the silhouette made iconic by Shotaro Kaneda in Akira. Not only is her overall shape basically the same, but she always wears a visible graphic on the back of the jacket. While Kaneda's symbol represents his place in the Neo-Tokyo biker gang known as the Capsules, however, the logo resembling a knight's chess piece on Jordan's clothing may suggest membership in a collective of her own.
The trailer suggests that she may have been a member of a group of bounty hunters known as the Five Aces, but if their dynamic turned out to be anything like that of Kaneda and his friends following Tetsuo's rampage in Akirathere may be an equally tragic story waiting to unfold.
Photos of a retro-futuristic CD Jukebox
As he prepares to head for Sempiria, Jordan uses his ship's music system to play a Pet Shop Boys song in Intergalactic: The Heretical Prophethis trailer. In an earlier scene a AkiraKaneda is shown interacting with a similar CD mechanism, some parts being almost identical to what Naughty Dog has done now. There are differences in the button console design, but the concept of pushing bulky analog buttons in a future timeline evokes the same general art style of “Cassette Futurism” by rooting the aesthetic in 1980s technology.
Jordan's spaceship is framed similarly to Kaneda's motorcycle
He might be a bounty hunter instead of a biker gang member like Kaneda, but the sleek red ship Jordan pilots presents visual parallels to his vehicle that are hard to ignore. The way he kicks his thrusters to boost the spacecraft's momentum as it moves off into the distance mirrors a shot of him doing the same with his motorcycle, though it's operating on a much larger scale.
This announcement trailer might not directly mimic the iconic “Akira slide” shot of Kaneda heading back into frame, but there is an uncanny resemblance to another part of the film with the entire Capsule strip seen in the way Jordan's ship. maneuvers on the screen. While it is not yet known how deep its influence will reach, there is an unmistakable echo of its raw visual energy established by the parallels with Akira in Intergalactic: The Heretical Prophethis disclosure.
Intergalactic: The Heretic Propher follows Jordan A. Mun, a dangerous bounty hunter who ends up stranded on Sempiria – a remote planet whose communication with the outside universe went dark hundreds of years ago. In fact, whoever flew to her hoping to uncover her mysterious past was never heard from again. Jordan will have to use all his skills and intelligence if he hopes to be the first person in over 600 years to leave his orbit.
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Sony Interactive Entertainment
